Bill of Rights for Students Involved in Sexual Misconduct Cases

The following rights shall be accorded by all campus officers, administrators, and employees of University of North Georgia, to victims of campus-related sexual assaults:

The right to investigation and appropriate resolution of all credible complaints of sexual misconduct made in good faith to university administrators;

The right to be treated with respect by university officials;

The right to have complaints of sexual misconduct responded to quickly and with sensitivity by campus law enforcement.

The right to be informed by university officials of options to notify proper law enforcement authorities, including on-campus and local police, and the option to be assisted by campus authorities in notifying such authorities, if the student so chooses. This also includes the right not to report, if this is the victim’s desire;

The right not to be discouraged by university officials from reporting an assault to both on-campus and off-campus authorities;

The right to bring a victim advocate or advisor to all phases of the investigation and campus conduct proceedings;

The right to review all documentary evidence available regarding the complaint, subject to the privacy limitations imposed by the state and federal law, at least 48 hours prior to the hearing;

The right to be informed of the names of all witnesses who will be called to give testimony, within 48 hours of the hearing, except in cases where a witness’ identity will not be revealed to the accused student for compelling safety reasons (this does not include the name of the alleged victim/complainant, which will always be revealed);

The right to be fully informed of campus conduct rules and procedures as well as the nature and extent of all alleged violations contained within the complaint;

The right to be notified of available counseling, mental health or student services for victims of sexual assault, both on campus and in the community.

The right to notification of and options for, and available assistance in, changing academic and living situations after an alleged sexual assault incident, if so requested by the victim and if such changes are reasonably available (no formal complaint, or investigation, campus or criminal, need occur before this option is available). Accommodations may include:

Change of an on-campus student’s housing to a different on-campus location;

Assistance from university support staff in completing the relocation;

Arranging to dissolve a housing contract and pro-rating a refund;

Exam (paper, assignment) rescheduling;

Taking an incomplete in a class;

Transferring class sections;

Temporary withdrawal;

Alternative course completion options;

The right to a campus no contact order against another student who has engaged in or threatens to engage in stalking, threatening, harassing or other improper behavior that presents a danger to the welfare of the complaining student or others;

The right to give testimony in a campus hearing by means other than being in the same room with the accused student;

The right to ask the investigators to identify and question relevant witnesses, including expert witnesses;

The right to be informed of the outcome and sanction of any disciplinary hearing involving sexual assault, usually within 24 hours of the end of the conduct hearing;

The right not to have irrelevant prior sexual history admitted as evidence in a campus hearing;

The right to appeal the finding and sanction of the hearing body in accordance with the standards for appeal posted in the Student Code of Conduct.

The right NOT to have any complaint of sexual assault mediated (as opposed to adjudicated);

The complainant has the right to make an-impact statement at the campus conduct proceeding and to have that statement considered by the board in determining its sanction;

The right to make a victim-impact statement at the campus conduct proceeding and to have that statement considered by the board in determining its sanction;

The right to preservation of privacy to the extent possible and allowable by law;

The right to a hearing closed to the public;

The right to petition that any member of the conduct body be removed on the basis of demonstrated bias;

The right to have the University compel the presence of student, faculty, and staff witnesses, and the opportunity (if desired) to ask questions, directly or indirectly, of witnesses (including the accused student), and the right to challenge documentary evidence.

The complainant has the right to ask questions directly or indirectly of the accused student. The accused student has the right to ask questions indirectly of the complainant.

The right to be present for all testimony given and evidence presented before the hearing body;

The right to have complaints heard by conduct and appeals officers who have received annual sexual misconduct training;

The accused student has the right to choose either an administrative hearing or a committee hearing. An administrative hearing is comprised of two hearing officers. A committee hearing is comprised of two faculty members, two students, and one faculty/staff chairperson.

The right to a hearing panel comprised of representatives of both genders;

The right to have university policies and procedures followed without material deviation;

The right to be informed in advance of any public release of information regarding the complaint;

The right not to have released to the public any personally identifiable information about the complainant, without his or her consent;

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